inspirational gifts

One of the things I love about my business is developing relationships with the people who’ve signed up for my classes. I find it challenging, though, because with so many things to do–writing blog posts, keeping up with social media, creating courses–sometimes those very people become an abstraction, just numbers in AWeber. Lately I’ve been reminded of just how lovely a personal communication can be, so I wanted to share some examples with you. I won’t mention their names, as I don’t want to embarrass them.

I recently took a self-improvement course. Wonderful and inspirational, with videos and emails along the way. At the end of it, I received a mug with the course’s logo on it in the mail, along with a congratulatory note. I was astonished. It meant so much to me to receive it. But the caring wasn’t over. I’d signed up for the Facebook group, but never got around to joining in. A couple of weeks later, the teacher called me. On the phone. Said there was no pressure, but she just wanted to check on me. I was overwhelmed by the fact that she cared enough to see why I wasn’t participating when I’d paid for it. Needless to say, I got into the group right away and have enjoyed it ever since.

My mentor has also shown me the power of caring in what many consider old-fashioned ways. When I participated in her webinar series challenge, she sent me, through the mail, a card. She has sent encouraging notes and small inspirational gifts that have brightened my day. Granted, this is a high-end mastermind program, but that doesn’t mean it would be any less valuable for other types of courses.

All of these gestures helped me feel I wasn’t just a number, but nurtured the relationships I have with these women. Consider the ways you can deepen the relationships with your readers and members. You can easily get a subscription to Send Out Cards, a service that sends out cards (aptly named, huh?) for you, as well as gifts. Or do it yourself. Send small gifts with your logo on them, using CafePress or VistaPrint. You don’t have to do it often to have a huge impact. Think about unique gifts tied in with the theme of your business or book.

Reaching out in these ways to your readers and members can have a big payoff–helping you deepen your relationships with those you care about helping.